This issue of our newsletter brought to you by Thrifty Traveler Premium Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World?January is slipping away – some might say good riddance. Let’s see what’s ahead. Inbound and Outbound Travel NewsWe don’t talk much about travel inbound to the United States. This last Tuesday in January is the official National Plan for Vacation Day, a recognition day formed in 2018 by the U.S. Travel Association and whoever makes those National Day calendars. We agree this is a perfect time to book your travel for the rest of the year. You may even be forming your wish list for 2026. What the U.S. Travel Association has in mind is, of course, is attracting visitors to the U.S., and encouraging domestic travel among its citizens. That’s not simple in the current political, economic, and environmental climate. (Social media by our non-U.S. travel colleagues is aflutter with remarks about avoiding the U.S.) The long view, however, is focused on events like soccer's 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. So expect to see more ads and promotion of domestic tourism. Around the world, leaders are talking about the economic impact of travel and the potential to use these resources to improve local economies and fund social and environmental initiatives. The Saudi Arabia Minister of Tourism spoke to this issue in Davos last week. We see initiatives around the world, and have gathered ideas for responsible tourism here. Our Tour to ScandinaviaSave $150 on our September tour to Sweden and Norway by booking before the end of January! (*You'll see a $100 discount as you book, and receive an additional $50 off when you are enrolled by January 31.) We’re excited about the food, among other things, and a return to Copenhagen (which is an optional 3-day extension to our itinerary). We’ve created this custom itinerary ourselves and are especially pleased about the optional day hikes and plenty of free time. See all the details and reserve your spot here. We love to help individualize our tours, so send us your wishes and questions! 🧳 Our Latest PostsAre you traveling outside the U.S. later this year? Book now and you'll have plenty of time to get your proverbial and actual house in order. Travel Past 50 has several posts that will help you with those advance preparations. In fact, our readers have queried us this week about these very things. Read our tips for Things to Do Before Traveling Internationally, and What to Do with Your Dog While on Vacation. Several questions about travel insurance have come our way recently, too. Yes, is the answer. You may find convenient and reasonable options at checkout when you book a tour or flight. If you travel more often – like 3 trips a year domestic or international – an annual plan like ours with Allianz Travel Insurance is cost effective and an easy way to get some peace of mind. Read Travel Insurance Basics: What to Look For and When to Buy. 🗞️ Travel News From Around the Web
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📖 What We're ReadingKris is reading Table for Two, a collection of short stories by Amor Towles. She’s completely taken by the wry narrative voice, the characters, the stories...which is to say: recommended! Tom is finishing The Wide Wide Sea, by Hampton Sides, about the third voyage around the world of the British explorer Captain James Cook in the late 1770s. Two themes are emerging as the voyage progresses: the inevitable culture clash between the imperialist British and the native peoples of the Pacific islands, and, more interesting even, the madness that the long voyage is wreaking on Cook and some of his men. A riveting book that continues to get better. For our previous book recommendations, check out this list. ❝Travel Quote of the Week❞In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. – John Muir Happy travels, Kris and Tom
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This issue of our newsletter brought to you by Daily Drop Pro Flash Sale Hello Reader, Jordan, where USAID has helped develop tourism to support local communities. We are concerned on many levels about the national and global repercussions from the acts of the current US administration. In particular, we despair at the dismantling of USAID – at the front line of preventing global pandemics and food scarcity. USAID leads the way worldwide in peaceful partnerships and education and is essential...
This issue of our newsletter brought to you by Thrifty Traveler Premium Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? Tom and I are taking a little break this week, which may or may not involve Las Vegas. Wish us luck. 🛫 Get Going: Tours We Recommend For You Come with us to Sweden, Norway, and maybe Denmark You could kayak in Trondheim. Great news: we are still offering a $100 discount on our custom, small group tour to Scandinavia in September. Only 9 spots remain, so grab a friend or three and sign...
This issue of our newsletter brought to you by Thrifty Traveler Premium Hello Reader, The view over the Beagle Strait and the city of Ushuaia, Argentina from the spa pool of our fave hotel of the year. 🧭 Where in the World? January is that peculiar month when we are looking both forward and back. It’s supposedly a good time to review and reevaluate, maybe even learn some lessons. So we checked back on our 2024 travels and found out that we were away from home more than a third of the year,...